Athletics Australia – News – KIDS’ ATHLETICS

IAAF Nestlé Healthy Active Kids’ Athletics will be piloted in approved Active After-School Communities as part of a push to boost athletics involvement and help children maintain healthy and active lifestyles.

Athletics Australia Chief Executive Dallas O’Brien said the program, to be run by Athletics Australia representing the sport’s governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), will be offered to Australian children as part of the national after-school care scheme. 

“The program will help Australian children maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, while providing a key introduction to the fundamentals of track and field that may encourage a young athlete to join their local Little Athletics Centre or Athletics Club,” Mr. O’Brien said. 

Active After-Schools Communities can be found nationally and provide access to free sport and structured physical activity programs.

Nestlé has been the main IAAF Kids Athletics worldwide sponsor since 2012, which has already seen programs supporting children’s athletics participation introduced in more than 80 countries. 

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“Should roll-out be successful in Australia, I am confident we’ll see a higher level of engagement in our sport by school-aged children. That’s a positive step towards developing our next generation of Australian talent,” Mr. O’Brien said.

Nestlé will also become the key sponsor of ‘fan zones’ across the National Athletics Series, offering fun and exciting athletic challenges appropriate for all ages at Athletics Australia events including the Australian Athletics Tour.

“Nestlé is committed to enhancing the quality of children’s lives through helping parents provide tastier and healthier food and encouraging active, healthy lifestyles,” Katrina Koutoulas, Nestlé Oceania Head of Nutrition, Health and Wellness, said. 

“We’re pleased to add the IAAF Nestlé Healthy Active Kids’ Athletics program to our existing initiatives which also includes the interactive Healthy Active Kids website – www.healthyactivekids.com.au – which helps parents and teachers to encourage kids to eat well and have fun exercising.” 

Ms. Koutoulas said that the sponsorship focuses on activity and balanced diets and does not include any product sampling. 

Pearson, Hastings, Oliver and Merritt are set to compete at the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge this Saturday 22 March. The crescendo of the Australian Athletics Tour, the event is the only International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) sanctioned track and field meet in Australia. 

It will welcome Australia and the world’s best for an outstanding afternoon of competition, with tickets available via Ticketmaster. 

For more information on the event, including the timetable and entry lists, please click here to visit the National Athletics Series home page.

Athletics Australia – News